ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Local researchers are testing a new vaccine that protects against pneumonia.

Saint Louis University infectious diseases specialist Dr. Sarah George says they’re looking at a new FDA-approved vaccine against pneumococal pneumonia.

“Essentially, what we want to ask is whether or not we can find a dose where a new FDA-approved vaccine, called Prevnar 13, how much of that medication, that vaccine, we need to use in people who already had an older version of that vaccine,” George said.

The previous vaccine protected against illnesses such as meningitis and blood stream infections caused by pneumonia but not pneumonia itself.

The pneumonia vaccine is recommended for people over 65 and those with compromised immune systems. For more information on this study, call (314) 977-6333.